Weighted vest

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a weighted vest  10  and more particularly to a weighted vest for use for children having development disorders. The weighted vest  10  in accordance with this invention includes a body member  12  having portions  22  aligned to engage upper extremities  24  of a wearer  20.  The weighted vest  10  also includes a first and second sleeve member  26  and  28  having an opening  30  and  32,  respectively, formed therein. First and second longitudinally extending pocket members  38  and  46,  respectively, are provided to extend along an innermost periphery of each side of the body member  12.  A first and second pair of longitudinally extending spaced pocket members  56  and  66,  respectively, are coupled to extend under the sleeve openings  30  and  32  respectively. A longitudinally extending weight member  64  is provided to slidably engage and rest in each one of the pocket members  38, 46, 56  and  66.  As a result when the weighted vest  10  is worn a calming sensation is provided to the wearer  20.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to children with development disorders and moreparticularly to a weighted vest for use as a therapeutic tool forchildren with such disorders. Development disorders such as autism andattention deficit disorder are of ongoing major concern in our society.As a result there are a number of different therapies that areimplemented on an ongoing basis in order to deal with such conditions.Because of these therapies there is an ongoing need for therapeutictools to help children with development disorders such as autism and/orattention deficit disorder. A number of the different therapeuticinterventions often require that the child be seated and maintained in acalm undisturbed condition. However maintaining the child in such acondition is one of the primary concerns and challenges for successfultherapeutic intervention.

Out of necessity there becomes a need more than ever to provide a simpleand inexpensive device to help such children experience a calmingsensation in order to facilitate and meet the many therapeuticobjectives that have to be accomplished to ultimately help in theirdevelopment. That is a device that assist the child in beingundisturbed, calm and focused while the therapeutic objectives are beingaccomplished.

BACKGROUND ART

Attempts have been made to provide tools that provide a particularlygeneral calming effect for children and adults alike with developmentdisorders. One such design is known as the temple guardian's hug machineor hug box. The hug box is made of two padded side boarders which arehinged near the bottom to form a V-shape. The user lies down or squatsinside the V. By using a lever, an air cylinder is engaged which pushesthe side-boarders together. This action provides a deep pressurestimulation evenly across the lateral parts of the body. Thisaccomplishes a general calming effect. Although this device workseffectively it is a large device and it does not necessarily allow othertypes of therapeutic events while it is being used.

Vest arrangements have also been used. These arrangements generally areprovided with the weights permanently attached to the bottom of thevest. With these arrangements the weight is not always distributed insuch a manner so that the desired calming affect can be readilyachieved. Additionally when it is desirable to change the weight in thevest in order to try and more readily meet the objective the weightcannot be changed without acquiring a new vest.

Maximum calming affect is achieved when the child feels a huggingsensation similar to that of being hugged by a person. This requiresproper weight placement about the body which sometimes requires ongoingweight adjustments. Thus a weighted vest is desirable which permitsproper placement of weights about the child's body while allowingongoing weight adjustment if needed. This of course will provide themaximum opportunity for a child to feel the simulated hugging sensationwhich in turn causes the desired undisturbed calm and focus required forsuccessful therapeutic intervention.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a weighted vest and more particularly to aweighted vest for use for children with development disorders. Theweighted vest in accordance with this invention includes a body memberhaving an upper portion adjacent to and surrounding the neck of thewearer, and a lower portion which is provided to cover the upperextremities, that is the chest and back of the wearer. The weighted vestalso includes a first sleeve member coupled to one side of the upperportion of the body member. The first sleeve member has an openingformed therein which surrounds an upper portion of one arm of thewearer. The weighted vest also includes a second sleeve member coupledto the other side of the upper portion of the body member, having anopening therein which surrounds an upper portion of the other arm of thewearer. A first longitudinally extending pocket is provided to extendalong an innermost periphery of one side of the body member from upperto lower portions of that side thereof. A second longitudinallyextending pocket member is provided to extend along the innermostperiphery of another side of the body member from upper to lowermostportions of that side thereof. A first pair of spaced longitudinallyextending pocket members are coupled just under the first sleeve openingon one side of the body member to extend therefrom to a lowermostportion under the opening. Further a second pair of longitudinallyextending pocket members is coupled just under the second sleeve openingon the other side of the body member to extend therefrom to a lowermostportion under this opening. Each one of the longitudinally extendingpocket members is provided with a longitudinally extending weight memberof a predetermined weight which slidably engages and rests in each ofthe pocket members. As a result when the vest is worn it readilyprovides a hugging sensation to the wearer which in turn causes acalming sensation for the wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The details of the invention will be described in connection with theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a weighted vest in accordancewith principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a weight used in the weightedvest in accordance with the principles of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a weighted vest worn by a user inaccordance with the principles of this invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENNTION

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown, a weighted vest,generally designated by the numeral, 10. The weighted vest 10 includes abody member, generally designated by the numeral, 12. The body member 12includes an opening 14 formed at an upper portion 16 thereof which isadjacent to and extends around the neck 18 of a wearer 20. The bodymember 12 is also provided with a lower portion 22 which will cover theupper extremity 24 of a person, that is the chest and back of the wearer20 (FIG. 3). The weighted vest 10 also includes a pair of sleevemembers, generally designated by the numeral 26 and 28 having an opening30 and 32, respectively, formed therein. The sleeve members 26 and 28are coupled to extend around upper portions of the arms 34 and 36 of thewearer 20.

A longitudinally extending pocket member, generally designated by thenumeral 38 is provided. The pocket member 38 is coupled to extend alongan innermost periphery 40 of one side 42 of the body member 12. Thepocket member 38 extends from the upper portion 16 to a lowermostportion 44 of the lower portion 22 of the body member 12. The weightedvest 10 is also provided with a pocket member 46. The pocket member 46is coupled to extend longitudinally along an innermost periphery 48 ofanother side 50 of the body member 12. The pocket member 46 extends fromthe upper portion 16 on the side 50 of the body member 12 to a lowermostportion 52 of the lower portion 22 of the body member 12.

The weighted vest 10 is further provided with a pair of longitudinallyextending pocket members, generally designated by the numeral, 56. Thepocket members 56 are aligned with and coupled just under the sleeveopening 30 to extend therefrom to a lowermost portion 58 of the bodymember 12. Another pair of pocket members, generally designated by thenumeral, 60 (only one shown) are aligned with and coupled under thesleeve opening 32 to extend therefrom to a lowermost portion 62 of thebody member 12.

Each longitudinally extending pocket member 38, 46, 56 and 60 isprovided with a longitudinally extending weighted member, generallydesignated by the numeral, 64 (FIG. 2) which is slidably insertable torest in the respective pocket member. The weighted member 64 is providedwith an upper gripping member 66 coupled to a lower member 68 of apredetermined weight. The gripping member 66 allows the lower weightedmember 68 to be slidably inserted into and removed from the pocket. Theweight of the member 64 and length of the member may vary depending onthe weight needed to facilitate the objective of calming the wearer 20.The size of weighted vest 10 along with the predetermined placement ofthe pockets 38, 46, 56 and 66 is such that the pockets are in engagingcontact with predetermined portions of the wearer's upper extremity 24.Thus when the appropriate amount of weight is placed in the pockets 38,46, 56 and 60 the wearer 20 will experience a pressure or sensation onthe body which simulates that of being hugged. This in turn causes thecalming effect. The amount of weight needed to provide the desiredeffect may vary depending on the size of the child and severity of thecondition. However weight adjustments are achieved by simply changingthe weighted members 64 in the pocket to one of the desired weight.

When in use the weighted vest 10 is worn by a wearer 20 as illustratedin FIG. 3. When the weighted vest 10 is worn weight is strategicallydistributed around the body of the wearer 20. Because of this strategicpositioning of the weights 64 the wearer 20 of the weighted vest 10feels a sensation of being hugged which provides a calming feelingthereby facilitating a successful therapeutic intervention.

This invention has been shown and described in what is considered to bethe most practical and preferred embodiment. However, it should berecognized that changes may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A weighted vest to be worn by a person having a development disorderincluding: a body member having an upper portion which is supportedaround the neck of the person and a lower portion for covering the upperextremities of the person; a first sleeve member having an openingformed therein, to be aligned with and surround one arm of the person; asecond sleeve member having an opening formed therein to surround theother arm of the person; a first pocket member coupled to extend alongan innermost periphery of one side of the body member from an upperportion thereof to a lowermost portion thereof; a first weight alignedto slidably engage and rest in the first pocket member; a second pocketmember coupled to extend along an innermost periphery of the other sideof the body member from an upper portion thereof to a lowermost portionthereof; a second weight member aligned to slidably engage and rest inthe second pocket member; a first pair of spaced pocket members coupledunder the first sleeve opening on one side of the body member to extendtherefrom to a lowermost portion under the first sleeve opening; a thirdweight member aligned to slidably engage and rest in one of the firstpair of spaced pocket members; a fourth weight member aligned toslidably engage and rest in the other one of the first pair of spacedpocket members; a second pair of spaced pocket members coupled under thesecond sleeve opening on the other side of the body member to extend toa lowermost portion under the second sleeve opening; a fifth weightedmember aligned to slidably engage and rest in one of the second pair ofspaced pocket members; and a sixth weighted member aligned to slidablyengage and rest in the other one of the second pair of spaced pocketmembers so that when the vest is worn the pocket members are in engagingcontact with predetermined portions of the person's upper extremitiesthereby causing a calming sensation to be experienced by the wearer. 2.A vest as defined in claim 1 wherein the first pocket member is alongitudinally extending rectangularly shaped pocket.
 3. A vest asdefined in claim 2 wherein the second pocket member is a longitudinallyextending rectangularly shaped pocket.
 4. A vest as defined in claim 3wherein each one of the first pair of spaced pocket members is alongitudinally extending rectangularly shaped pocket.
 5. A vest asdefined in claim 4 wherein each one of the second pair of spaced pocketmembers is a longitudinally extending rectangularly shaped pocket.
 6. Aweighted vest as defined in claim 5 wherein each one of the weightedmembers includes: an upper grasping member; and a lower rectangularlyshaped longitudinally extending weight coupled to the upper graspingmember.
 7. A weighted vest as defined in claim 6 wherein each one of theweight members is a predetermined weight.